布里斯班河低潮期间暴露出一个环保隐患——大量沉入河底的电动滑板车。环保组织Ocean Crusaders在过去一年内从布里斯班中央商务区附近水域打捞了约150辆电动滑板车[1]，这一发现引发了对河流污染的担忧。
学者和环保人士对此风险提出警告。悉尼大学水质专家Stuart Khan指出，电动滑板车锂电池中含有的锂、铜、镍、钴、锰等重金属物质对生态构成风险[1]。西悉尼大学水科学家Ian Wright更直言不讳地表示："锂肯定很危险……它对水生生物有毒，布里斯班河已经面临城市径流、污水处理等挑战"[1]。
相关产业方对问题态度相对淡漠。布里斯班市议会与电动滑板车公司上一财年的收入超过500万澳元[1]。目前布里斯班最多可同时运营7100辆电动滑板车[1]，这一庞大的运营规模与打捞出的数量相比，暗示更多滑板车可能仍沉在河底。
Environmental organization Ocean Crusaders has recovered approximately 150 electric scooters from the Brisbane River near the central business district over the past year, revealing a significant pollution problem as tidal conditions expose debris on the riverbed.[1] The city currently permits up to 7,100 e-scooters to operate simultaneously,[1] while Brisbane City Council and e-scooter operators generated combined revenue exceeding AUD 5 million in the previous financial year.[1]
Environmental scientists have raised serious concerns about the hazard posed by lithium batteries submerged in the waterway. Stuart Khan, a water expert from the University of Sydney, warned that lithium, copper, nickel, cobalt, and manganese compounds present in these batteries pose ecological risks to the river system.[1] Ian Wright, a water scientist from Western Sydney University, stated that "lithium is definitely dangerous... it is toxic to aquatic life," noting that the Brisbane River already faces additional pressures from urban stormwater runoff and sewage treatment challenges.[1] However, both e-scooter operators and Brisbane City Council have downplayed the significance of the pollution issue.[1]